The city that we know of today has undergone numerous changes over the past 100 years due to several reconstruction projects around the city.
The Urban Renewal Project or “Gentrification” of several areas has led to the displacement of the poor as a part of the efforts to improve the city.
One such slum clearance that is not often talked about is the Upper West Side slum clearing. The Upper West Side slum clearing happened during the 1950’s and 1960’s as a part of the creation of the famous Lincoln Center. This project was commissioned under the famous builder Robert Moses and resulted in the movement of several African American and Hispanic communities being forced to move from there.
Such Urban Renewal projects continue to be done around the city, one of which includes the development of a new apartment buildings that are being done to accomodate the growing population. The Museum of the City of New York hosts an exhibit called “Making Room” that talks about this new building effort. It basically is a way to reduce the space of an apartment for one person significantly in order to make room for more.
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